Extension embalming-couch.



G. NUGEN'I'.

EXTENSION EMBALMING- canon. 7

APPLICATION FILED 1130.30, 1907. 9?} g1 Patented 0ct.4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

WITNESSES ms Nmmls PEIERS ca, wasnmcrou, o c.

G. NUGENT.

EXTENSION EMBALMING'COUOE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30, 1907.

9'?1 ,921 a Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

4 sums-5mm 2.

WITN ESSES INVENTOR g/% I W a Wiggle/2% ATTORNEY YHE NORRIS PETE sssssssssssssssssss c.

0. NU GENT.

EXTENSION EMBALMING COUCH.

APPLIOATIOE TILED DEG. 3.0, 1907. Q'H QQL Patented 0ct.4, 1910.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES INVENTOR ATTORNEY THE mmms PETERS cc:., wnsnmc'roufmc 0. NUGBNT, EXTENSION EMBAL MING COUCH. APPLiOATION IILED DEC. 30, 1907.

9?}h9g1 Patented 0013.4, 1910.

A: 14 sHBETssHEBT 4. I

W N ESSES ATTO'RNEY THE NORRIS PETERS ca, WASHINGYON, D, c.

FFKQE.

CHARLES NUGENT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EXTENSION EMBALMING-COUGH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES NUGENT, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ex tension Embalming-Couches, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to a new and useful in'ipii'ovement in adjustable embalming couches and casket stands, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple and effective device of this description which may be folded into small compass for trans porting and storing when not in use and which may be readily adjusted for use, after which it will be as rigid as an ordinary noncollapsible stand.

A further object of my invention is to provide for the raising and lowering of the front end of the couch so as to give it a pitch.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for the attachment of wheels and casters to the legs of the couch, thus pro viding for its being moved to and fro without being lifted.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a detachable frame for holding a *anopy, and which frame may also be folded into small compass when not in use, and a still further object of my invention is to so construct a head rest that it may be adjusted to various heights, while the can as or covering will always remain taut.

With these ends in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I will describe its construction in detail, referring by letter to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement in, its distended position, the canopies or covering being omitted. Fig. 2, a side view thereof. Fig. 3, an enlarged end View showing the cross braces. Fig. t, a similar view showing a modified form of these braces. Fig. 5, an enlarged cross section of the device when folded. Fig. (5, an enlarged detail section of the lower portion of one of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1907.

Patented Oct. 4, 1910.

Serial No. 408,519.

the front legs showing the extension foot fitted therein, by which the front end of the couch may be raised. Fig. 7 is a. detail perspective portion of one of the side bars showing the canvas clamped thereto.

In carrying out my invention as here embodied, A represents two side bars, which are in the form of channel irons, and these bars are adapted to receive the corresponding bars B, which slide in the channels thereof, thus making an extension frame which may be telescoped to approximately one-half of its extended length, and these side bars are secured together by the cross bars G and C, which are pivoted together at D, one end of the bar C being provided with the pin E adapted to fit in a corresponding hole formed in one end of the bar C so as to form a collapsible brace for holding the side bars at their proper distance apart, or permit-ting them to be folded inward upon each other. A band or sleeve F adapted to slip over the over-lapping ends of the cross bars C and C is provided for holding these bars in their distended. position, as will be readily under stood.

G represents a pair of front legs, each one of which is pivoted at G to the side bars A, and these legs are connected together by the braces H and H, said braces being made in section, the outer ends of each section being pivoted to one of the legs, as indicated at H", while their inner ends are pivoted together, as indicated at I, while one member of each pair of the braces is slotted to engage with the pin I, thus locking these braces in a horizontal position, when the couch has been adjusted for use, and if desired the sleeves J may be arranged to slip over the o\ erlapping ends of the members of the braces, thereby further securing them in alinement. The side bars B are likewise provided with a: pair of legs K, which are pivoted thereto at K, and these legs are also connected together by sectional braces L and L, in the same manner as the front legs are connected by the sectional braces H and H. These braces L and L being pivoted at L to the legs, and also having the hooks M formed therewith for engagement with the studs M, so as to more firmly hold the sections of the braces in alinement.

Pivoted to the front ends of the side bars A are the stays N, their inner ends having hooks formed therein for engagement with suitable pins or studs projecting from the legs G, and when these stays are thus engaged with the legs they will hold the latter in a vertical position. N also represents stays, which are pivoted to the side bars B, and have a series of slots O formed therein for engagement with said legs K, and when these stays are in engagement with said hooks the legs K will be held in either a vertical position or at an angle, according to the slots 0 with which the studs are in engagement. This arrangement provides for the raising and lowering of the rear end of the couch within certain limits.

The side bars A each have a shield A secured thereon throughout their length, which serves the purpose of securing the canvas or other fabric A used as a cover or top for the couch, the edges of the canvas being placed between the bars A and the shield A, the latter being secured to the former by suitable screws. Likewise the bars B are provided with shields B, for the same purpose.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the couch may be folded into a comparatively small compass by folding the legs parallel with the side bars A and B, and then telescoping the latter into the former, and afterwards by collapsing the braces L, L, H and H, the cross bars C and G will be folded against each other, making an eX- ceedingly small package for transportation or storage, yet when the couch is distended and the various parts adjusted, as before described, it will be as rigid as though it were not collapsible, and may be used for different lengths of bodies by more or less collapsing one set of said bars into the other, as will be readily understood.

It sometimes becomes necessary to lift the front end of the couch so as to incline the latter, and this I accomplish by providing the extension feet P, which have the ratchet teeth P formed thereon, adapted to engage the lug Q formed upon the inner edge of the front legs, the latter being hollow for the reception of these extension feet, and the spring R serves to throw the teeth into engagement .with said lug, thus when it is desired to lift the front end of the couch it is only necessary to place the foot upon the lugs P and lift said front end to the desired height, which will draw out the extension feet, one of the teeth thereof finally locking upon the lug Q and holding the couch in its adjusted position.

Vhen the device is to be used as a church truck the wheels S are attached to the front legs by means of the brackets S to receive the lower ends of said legs, and these wheels are preferably provided with rubber tires to deaden the sound.

I also provide the swiveled wheels T, adapted to be attached to the lower ends of the rear legs by the latter being set in the sockets T, and when the couch is thus mounted upon these wheels it may be rolled to and fro being guided by the proper swinging of the swiveled wheels T after the manner of casters, as will be readily understood.

It often becomes desirable to use a canopy or cover over the couch when occupied by a body, and I therefore provide two folding frames, each of which consists of a cross rod a, and the side rods 6, which are pivoted thereto at (Z, the lower ends of these side rods being adapted to set in holes 6 formed in the side bars for this purpose, thus when one of these frames is attached to the side bars A and one to the side bars B, a cover or canopy may be stretched thereover. When these canopy frames are not in use they are readily folded to the position shown in Fig. 11 and may thus be easily stored or transported.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a head rest which consists of a frame composed of the rods f pivoted together at g, there being two sets of these rods, one shown in full lines and one in dotted lines, each set being connected by the cross rods it. i are bars pivoted at j to the rods f, ratchet teeth 7; being formed upon the free ends of the bars '5 with which the lower opposite ends of the rods f are adapted to engage, thus providing for the adjustment of the frame for increasing or decreasing its height. Z represents the canvas or other covering, the ends thereof being secured to the lower rods it and passing over the upper rods it. This head rest is adapted to be placed upon the head of the couch and form a light and sanitary pillow for the head of the corpse, and when not in use may be collapsed into a comparatively small space.

In Fig. at I have shown a slightly modified form of the braces for holding the legs in proper position when the device is adjusted for use, and in this modification these braces consist of the bars at for the front legs and n for the rear legs they being pivoted at the upper portion of the legs as indicated at 79 while their lower ends are hooked to engage the studs or pins g, this arrangement makes the couch more rigid when adjusted for use.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction here shown as these may be varied within certain limits without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, is-

1. In a device of the character described, a frame composed of two channel iron side bars, a second frame also composed of two channel iron side bars, the last named frame adapted to telescope within the first named frame, a pair of cross bars pivoted to the side bars of one of the frames, said cross bars also being pivoted together, a pin carried by one of the cross bars adapted to fit into a hole in the other bar, a sleeve adapted to slide over the overlapping ends of said cross bars, a pair of legs pivoted to each of the frames, sectional braces pivoted to the legs, hooks projecting from the heel end of the braces, pins projecting from the legs with which the hooks engage, pins project ing from. the inner ends of one member of each sectional brace adapted to fit into slots formed in the other members, and sleeves adapted to slide over the over-lapping ends of each sectional brace as specified.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame composed of two channel iron side bars, a second frame also composed. of two channel iron side bars, the last named frame adapted to telescope within the first named frame, a pair of cross bars pivoted to the side bars of one of the frames, said cross bars also being pivoted together, a pin carried by one of the cross bars adapted to fit in a hole in the other bar, a sleeve adapted to slide over the over-lapping end of the other bar, a pair of legs pivoted to each of the frames, sectional braces pivoted to the legs and adapted to hold the latter in a distended position or permit them to be c0llapsed, braces for holding the legs in a vertical position, angle iron shields adapted to secure a cloth or covering upon the frame, the inner shields sliding with the inner side bars into the outer side bars, extension feet fitted to slide in hollows formed in the front legs, teeth formed upon the shanks of the extension feet, lugs formed with the legs for engaging said teeth, springs for normally holding said teeth in engagement with said lugs, and lugs formed on said foot by which the latter may be extended, as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aliixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES NUGENT.

Witnesses Enw. V. ANs'rIon, S. M. GALLAGi-IER. 

